As the new year begins, Georgia is seeing one of the highest rates of flu-associated hospitalizations in the nation, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health.

State health officials report that seven Georgians died from flu-related complications between December 20 and December 27, bringing the total to 29 deaths since October. At this same point last year, the state had reported no flu-associated deaths.

Hospitalizations are also climbing sharply. In an eight-county metro Atlanta area, 511 people were hospitalized with the flu through December 27, an increase of roughly 600 hospitalizations in just one week. Health experts caution those numbers likely underestimate how widespread the illness truly is, since many people never seek care or testing.

Doctors across the state say emergency rooms are staying consistently busy. Instead of the usual midweek slowdown, hospitals are seeing steady patient volumes throughout the week, with more people being admitted for shortness of breath, chest pain, and severe flu symptoms. Some hospitals have even reinstated universal masking policies, a move not seen since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health officials say this season is being driven by an aggressive Type A flu strain known as subclade K, including a mutated version that can cause more severe illness. While this strain is not fully matched by this year’s flu vaccine, doctors stress the shot still offers critical protection—especially against hospitalization and death.

The CDC continues to recommend flu vaccination for everyone six months and older, particularly seniors, pregnant women, and those with underlying conditions. Public health leaders note that free or low-cost vaccines are widely available, even for uninsured residents, through local health departments statewide.

With several months of flu season still ahead, doctors urge Georgians to stay vigilant, get vaccinated, and seek medical care if symptoms worsen.

Press release from the Georgia Department of Public Health: 

Widespread Flu Activity in Georgia
Protect Yourself and Prevent the Spread of Flu
Flu activity is widespread and severe in Georgia, and cases are likely to increase following the holidays and as Georgians return to work and school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also projects a severe flu season. If you have not gotten a flu shot yet and have no medical conditions preventing you from doing so, the Department of Public Health strongly urges you to take advantage of the health benefits the flu vaccine provides as soon as possible.
The CDC recommends that individuals over the age of six months receive a once-yearly flu vaccine – not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications, including the elderly and immunocompromised. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so now is the time to get a flu shot. Even if you get the flu, the vaccine can help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and, in extreme cases, death. You may consult with a healthcare professional (such as a licensed medical doctor, nurse, or other practitioner) if you have questions about the flu shot.
The flu vaccine is widely available at public health departments, doctors’ offices, grocery stores, neighborhood clinics, and pharmacies.
Flu symptoms and their severity can vary from person to person and may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people are at higher risk of developing serious complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, pregnant women, and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.
In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend antiviral drugs to treat the flu. Antiviral drugs are prescription medications and are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptom onset.
There are other tried and true measures you can take to help prevent the spread of flu:
  • Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and warm water. Alcohol based gels are the next best thing if you don’t have access to soap and water.
  • Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm to help prevent the spread of the flu.
  • Avoid touching your face as flu germs can get into the body through the mucus membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes.
  • If you are sick, stay home from school or work. Flu sufferers should be free of a fever, without the use of a fever reducer, for at least 24 hours before returning to school or work.
  • If you are caring for a sick individual at home, keep them away from common areas of the house and other people as much as possible.
For more information about flu and how to prevent it, log on to dph.ga.gov/flu. You can monitor Georgia’s weekly influenza reports at dph.georgia.gov/flu-activity-georgia. The reports are updated on Fridays.